Sheet counting apparatus



April 27, 1954 G. s-rREcKER SHEET COUNTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 21 1951 April 27, 1954 G. sTREcKER 2,676,523

SHEET COUNTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5335/3 da Z3 a P19770 d3 L' Im/emor: Geha/d Sfr ecke r Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES y 2,576,523 grant OFFICE SHEET COUNTING APPARATUS Application February 21, 1951,.Serial No. 212,004

Claims priority, application Switzerland February 22, 11950 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a counting apparatusjfor use with a transverse web cutter, that is to say for a machine which by means of a'transverse, usually rotating, cutter blade cuts continuously running webs of paper or other material 4into single sheets and piles them in a stack.

In order to identifythe predetermined counted number, usually ya ream, in the stacked cut sheets, a marking strip vinserting device is used, which is controlled lby a counter mechanism and after a `predetermined number of sheets has been counted, a marking strip is fed from a storage roll, andis Acut off by the transverse blade of the web cutter, Ythus being inserted and retained inthe fstack. The count identifying strip inserting device can also be so constructed that it inserts a previously prepared marking strip into the stack. The present invention has for its object an improved construction of `such counting apparatus.

The following requirements must be satisfied by the counting apparatus.

l. The predetermined number of sheets to be counted and identified by the insertion of a marking strip at the appropriate point in the stack :of vcut sheets must be readily adjustable. This predetermined number of sheets, hereinafter referred to as the ream number is al- Ways an integer and is preferably adjustable by increments of one or two sheets when the predetermined number of sheets, or the ream number has a numerical value of around 500. rhus, not Jonly are 'metric Arealms of 566 sheets and English reams of 480 sheets yrequired to be counted, vbut also fractions of these7 as well as reams which, to allow for faulty sheets, are increased by 'a'small number; instead of 500 sheets for example 504, 506, 508 or 512. Also, the predetermined number of sheets to be counted must be vadjustable to include ream numbers which are notmultiples of the number of rolls simultaneously feeding the web cutter, and which 4will be accurate with respect to the average number of sheets' in successive'reams.

l.2."The counting apparatus must be Vcapable of simple and rapid adjustment to take into account th'e vnumber of rolls of material simultaneously 'feeding the web cutter. The number ci frll's or layers ofmaterial in the web, hereina'fter referred 'to -as `the roll number, often changes during operation; it must therefore, be possible toadju'st-the counting apparatus to 'suitfthe lchanged `operating conditions by simple movement-:oa lever-ofthe like. j

3. The counting apparatus must ensure that the marking strips are inserted in the stack between two successive'cuts of the blade. The insertionof marking strips must, therefore, take place in synchronism with the blade operating shaft..

ALThe rcounting lapparatus must also work reliably and without errors at high operating speeds.

According to the present invention a final shaft is driven Vfrom a first Vshaft which may be the blade operating shaft of the web cutter or'is a tshaft running in .synchronism therewith, through a plurality of continuously rotating serally coupled adjustable speed ratio gearing units which have a reducing ratio corresponding with the Vream number and a multiplying ratio corresponding with the roll number, the said nal shaft, which is driven through the complete series of gearing units operating a mechanism or electric signal device, for example a cam switch, for giving a signal which initiates the insertion of a marking strip, at the first or second or some subsequent predetermined integrallyfnumbered cut following the signal.

The adjustable gearing units are preferably arranged in conventional manner to provide for conveniently and rapidly changing the speed ratio. Known types of adjustable ratio gearing units may be used, and preferably these are provided with `a manually operable handle or similar device whichselectively controls the individual .meshing vof different sets of gears, each providing a different speed ratio. The specific type of adjustable ratio gearing unit is not critical, vand any desired type may be used. Where a large speed ratio is required, the complete gearing maybe Vdivided between two or more separate units, reach individually adjustable, the plurality vof units in such a case being connected rin tandem or .cascade relationship to obtain the desired relatively'largev speed ratio.

The .invention may also use a number of electrical switches, .each cyclically actuated through individual gearing providing a different speed ratio for each aswitch, together with a selector switch for selecting Va particular one of the cyclically-actuated switches associated with speed reducing gearing -f of the desired speed ratio. One or more adjustablespeed ratio gearing units may also fbe `used "in `combination with a plurality of cyclically actuated switches, if desired.

IInportions of "the counting apparatus where Atl-ia'counting Vrate isrelatvely slow, an adjustable repeating `counter of conventional type may be used. In those portions of the counting apparatus where the counting rate is high, however, no intermittently actuated or rapidly reciprocating parts may be used, since their inertia would tend to prevent accurate response of the counting apparatus when used with a modern high speed web cutting machine.

Preferably according to the invention, the actuating signal is not given directly to the strip inserting device, but first to a storage device, from which it is transmitted through intermediate elements serving for its synchronised transmission, to a cam switch controlled by a high speed shaft synchronized with the web cutter which then, however, directly actuates the strip inserting device without intermediate relays or the like involving inertia. In this way inertia eiects which hinder high speed running of the transverse web cutting machine are completely eliminated in both the mechanical and electrical parts of the apparatus.

The above described arrangement, in addition to making it possible to utilise high speeds, affords a wide range and simple independent adjustment for each roll and ream number. Since the signal to the strip inserting device is synchronized with the operation of the blade of the web cutter, ream numbers can be counted which are not divisible by the roll number. In this case oscillating counts take place, that is the counter stacks of sheets alternately will contain then a few sheets more and a few sheets less than the desired number, but on the average this number is exactly counted and marked.

Further details of the invention will appear f from the following description of the examples shown in the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 shows the principle of the mechanical parts of a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a corresponding electric circuit diagram,

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the timing of the cam switches which determine the beginning and the end of the signal,

Fig. 4 shows part of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a first shaft a, which may be the blade operating shaft of the web cutter (not shown) or a shaft driven therewith at the same speed, drives a second shaft b, being connected thereto through a speed reducing device diagrammatically shown as an adjustable ratio gearing unit N1, of conventional and well known type. Shaft b, in turn, drives a third shaft c through a speed increasing adjustable ratio gearing unit N2, similar to the speed reducing gearing unit N1. A fourth, or nal shaft d is driven by shaft c through a speed reducing adjustable ratio gearing unit Na.

The speed increasing or multiplying gearing unit N2 is adjustable for speed ratios ranging from a minimum of 1:1 upwardly to 12R where R is an integer equal to the maximum roll number, that is, the maximum number of layers of uncut sheet material which may be simultaneously fed to the web cutter. The maximum roll number R is ordinarily about 12.

The adjustable ratio speed reducing gearing units N1 and Ns provide an overall speed reduction equal to the ream number. Advantageously, the range of ratios of the gearing unit N1 may be selectively adjustable in steps from 10:1 through 13:1, the numerical value numerator or greater number in eachv ratio being an integer, a further ratio of 12.5:1 being included. The

speed reducing gearing unit Na is conveniently adjustable to provide speed ratios from 2:1 to 60:1, the numerator of the fraction corresponding to the selectable speed ratio being an integer in each instance. This range of speed ratios permits adjustment for a large number of ream numbers, all of which must obviously be integers, in the range from 20 to 1080, and also provides a large selection of integers for ream numbers around 500, by simple adjustment of the gearing units.

In the slowest speed portion of the device between intermediate shaft c and the slowly rotating final shaft d, the gearing unit N3 may conveniently and economically be replaced by a repeating or batch counter of known type (not shown) adjustably providing integral counts from 2 to 60 with provision for rapidly selecting any desired integer within this range. Such a counter gives the same result as reducing gearing unit N3, but is more economical, since a large number of sets of meshing gears are eliminated. Conventional counters of this type are self-resetting and close a pair of contacts each time the selected count is reached, advancing step by step to the selected count. The contact closure in well known counters of this type usually `takes place at each resetting, thereby providing a control signal for the actuation of any desired type of electrically operated apparatus upon the completion of the adjustably preset count.

On the shaft d is a cam switch A, the contacts 2 and Irl of which are bridged once during each revolution of the shaft d. By the closing of the switch A the strip inserting device is actuated in the manner to be described in detail. To increase the accuracy of closure of the circuit, a second cam switch B which is on the faster running shaft c, may be provided in series with the switch A. The time the switch B is closed can be that of half a revolution of the shaft c or less, that of the switch A should be somewhat less than that corresponding to one revolution of the shaft c. The slower operating switch A may be regarded as a coarse contact, the faster operating switch B as a fine contact.

As the operation of the strip inserting device, that is the feeding of the marker strip, must take place between two consecutive cuts of the blade, i. e. in a specific phase relationship to the rotation of the blade operating shaft, an arrangement is provided by which the preliminary signal produced by the closing of the switches A and B is not given direct to the strip inserting device, but is rst given to a storage device in the form of a relay S, from which it reaches the device only when the high speed first shaft a reaches an angular position corresponding with the required position of the blade. The insertion of the strip could take place at the same angular blade position in the cutting cycle immediately following the giving of the preliminary signal. For reasons explained below, however, the arrangement in the embodiment shown and described is so contrived that the insertion takes place in the second cutting cycle following the preliminary signal. It could equally well take place in the third or a still later cycle. Apart from the above mentioned elements, further elements which effect the synchronising and the termination of the strip inserting cycle are also provided.

Fig. 2 shows them in detail. In addition to the two cam actuated switches A and B already mentioned, two further cam switches C and D are provided, which are fboth. actuated by the rst high speed shaft a. C is a multiple contact two position switch that could comprise av plurality of single-Switches. The switches C and D are arranged so that each is actuated during one half oi a revolution of shaft 'a but are relatively phased as will be explained. As well as these switches, there is a series of relays with locking contacts, namely the storage relay S, two relays U and T serving to prepare and hold openv certain current paths, a relay R serving as a repeat-preventing lock, and a further relay V. The operating winding Yof the strip inserting device is indicated at W. As soon as and as long as. this winding is 'energised the device is 'in operation, that is the marking strip is fed forwardly. VThe operation of the above enumerated elements will now be described.

In the rest or starting position, the contacts S and EIJ of relay R are closed, and accordingly as soon as both switches A and B are closed, the storage relay S is energised and so puts a conductor I2 under voltage over its contacts IE, I2. If the switch C now moves downwards the voltage is applied over` its contacts I2 and conductor I to the relay U. The latter is now energised and is held on over contacts 2, 3 of V and 3, I of U, even when the contacts I2, I of C re-open. lf the switch C now rises its contacts 6, I and 8, I are closed;over I., 6 the relay T is energised and held on over its own contacts 4, E as long as relay U is excited, that is asv long as 2, 3

of V remain closed, even when 6., I of C openy again. Through the energising of T, the contacts 5 and 6 of C are put under voltage. Through the closing of 8, 'I when C rises, the repeat-preventing lock R is energised, contacts 9 and Ill are opened and relay S is thereby deenergised. (The relay R is only de-energised again when both of the switches A and B and also either the contacts 8, l of C, or the contacts 1, I of U have opened.) This covers one actuation of switch C, i. e. one revolution of shaft a and therefore one cutting cycle. When the switch C moves downwardly again in the next cutting cycle contacts I3 of C are closed and the conductor I3 which leads to the winding W of the strip-inserting device, is directly put under voltage and the strip-inserting device is ac tuated without any intermediate relay between C and W. At the saine time the relay V is energised over the same contacts I3 of C; con-- tacts Z, 3 of V open and disconnect U, but T remains energised over contacts 2, E of C. The

switch D now closes and shortly after the switch C inoves upwardly. The relay T is thereby deenergised at contacts 6, I3 of C, but the relay V remains energised over contacts 2, I6 of D and its own contacts I5, I3 until the switch D opens. As soon as this happens, the windings W and V are cut out and the actuation of the strip-inserting device terminates. If the switches A and B have not previously opened,`

the relay R still remains excited until one of these switches opens. Thereupon all the elements have reached their rest or .starting position and the cycle can recommence the next time switch A closes, i. e. after another rearn has been cut.

Fig. 3 shows the relative timing of the con'- tacts I3 of C and 2, It of D; Both contacts close during half a revolution. The closing of 6, I of C determines the beginning of the' signal to W, that is the beginning of the actuation of the strip-inserting device. Before Ci ing shaft.

opens, D `has closed and takes over the continuation of the signal. The opening 0f D then determines the end of the signal to W. All the cam switches can be adjustable in phase by angular adjustment of their casings after the fashion of the contact breaker of an automobile engine.

Recapitulating, the closing of switches A and B actuates the storage relay S which takes over and stores the signal and puts the line I2 under voltage. By the closing of the contacts I2, I of C the line I is then put under voltage and U is energised. This operation is not completely synchronised in relation to the cutting cycle because it can happen that the switches A and B close after the contacts I2, I of C have closed. When the switch C moves upwards the relays R. and T are then energised over the contacts 8, 'I and 6, I respectively of C. At this stage synchronisation is completed. Only now does voltage appear at the contact 5 of the switch C in order to be led direct from contact I3 to the winding W of the strip-inserting device in proper phase relationship to the blade operat- At the same time the storage relay S has been disconnected by the repeat-preventing lock relay R so that a repetition of the signal which with the iine Contact running very slowly might otherwise have occurred for the same ream cannot take place until after the iine contact has opened again. The relays U and T thus serve solely to prepare and hold open the current path in correct synchronism. Before the contacts 6, I3 of switch C are opened, the switch D takes over the signal. Opening of switch D determines the end of the signal. At the same time it cuts out the relay V which effects the return of relay U to the starting position.

Fig. 4 shows the general arrangement of part of a modified embodiment of the invention. The shaft a running at the speed of the blade-operating shaft, which actuates the cam switches C and D drives through an adjustable ratio speed increasing gearing unit N2, a shaft c carrying the above mentioned cam switch B serving as a fine contact, which shaft drives in parallel a number of sub-shafts ci to cs all of which as shown rotate at the samev speed as shaft c though it would be possible to introduce a different ratio between shaft c and any of the shafts c1 to cs. The sub-shafts drive through respective fixed ratio speed reducing gearing units Z1 to Z5 shafts di to d5 which carry cam switches A1 to A5. By means of a selector switch Q any of the cam. switches A1 to A5 can be brought into circuit. The leads 2, lll connect to those leading from the contacts 2, I4 of switch A in Fig. 2.

The adjustable ratio speed increasing gearing unit N2 serves for adjustment to suit the roll number, while the switch Q serves for adjustment to the desired rearn number. Only ve gears Z1 to Z5 and associated parts are shown, but actually any desired nom-ber can he provided. As in the previous embodiment, what is important is the overall speed ratio. For roll. numbers from 1 to l2 and ream numbers of 4:80, 484, 500, etc, therefore, for convenience the ratios of the gear box N2 may be adjustable from 10:1 to 10:12V and the ratios of Z1, Z2, Za etc. can be made 48.01, 48.41, 50.01, etc. It would also be possible to set up a mechanism having thev features of both the above embodiments, that is to say having in addition t0 a series of single ratio gears Z1 etc. and switch Q, a further multi-ratio gear, e. g. a Norton gear box, corresponding to N1 between the shaft a and the gear N2.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described for use with a continuous web sheet cutting and stacking apparatus for cutting a web comprising at least one layer of material to be cut, said cutting apparatus including a first revolving shaft, one revolution of said first shaft accompanying the cutting of an integral number of sheets corresponding to the number of layers of material in the web fed to the cutter, said device comprising: a second shaft driven in fixed angular relationship with respect to said first shaft; a third shaft speed changing means comprising adjustable speed reducing means and adjustable speed increasing means connected in cascade relationship and interconnecting said second and third shafts, the speed ratio of said speed reducing means being equal to a predetermined number of cut sheets to be counted and identified and the speed ratio of said speed increasing means being equal to said number of layers of material; count identifying means responsive to a control signal and adapted to cause operation of mechanism for the identification of said predetermined counted number of said stacked cut sheets by insertion of a marker in said stack; and control signal originating means actuated by said third shaft and connected to said count identifying means.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said control signal originating means comprises: a supply of electrical energy; a normally open switch actuated by said third shaft, said switch comprising contacts closed for a predetermined time interval once during each revolution of said third shaft; a storage relay having a locking contact and with its winding in series with said switch so that it is energized from the supply when said switch is closed and remains energized when said switch returns to normal, a multiple contact two-position switch actuated by said second shaft, which, when actuated, gives a supply over contacts of said storage relay when the latter is energized, a preparing relay having a locking contact energized by the actuation of said two-position switch when it is given a supply as aforesaid and remaining energized when said two-position switch returns to starting position, a further relay having locking contacts energized through contacts closed by said preparing relay when energized and over contacts of said twoposition switch closed when the switch is in starting position, said further relay, when energized, closing contacts which are in a direct circuit to said count identifying means which includes contacts closed by the actuation of said two-position switch, so that the count identifying means is actuated the next time the two-position switch is actuated in predetermined angular relationship with respect to the first shaft, and means which in timed relation to the actuation of the count identifying means opens the circuit of said preparing relay whereby, when said two-position switch returns to normal, all three relays aforesaid are de-energized.

3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a third switch in series with the 'first switch, said third switch being closed once per revolution of a member disposed intermediate said second and third shafts and which rotates at a speed which is an integral multiple of the speed of said third shaft, a repeat preventing lock relay directly energized by the closing of the first and third switches and having a locking contact supplied over contacts closed by the twoposition switch when it is at starting position and over contacts closed when the preparing relay is energized, said lock relay having contacts which are open when it is energized and which thereby release the storage relay.

4. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a third switch closed once during each revolution of the second shaft and remaining closed after said two-position switch has been actuated and opened after said two-position switch has returned to its starting position, and a final relay which is energized by said twoposition switch when it is actuated and when energized provides the locking supply for the preparing relay and also closes a supply circuit through said third switch to the count identifying means and transfers control of its own supply to the third switch so that the direct supply to the count identifying means is continued after the two-position switch returns to starting position, and when said third switch opens, the supply to the count identifying means and the final relay is broken thus de-energizing the count identifying means and the preparing relay.

5. A device of the class described for use with a continuous web sheet cutting and stacking apparatus for cutting a web comprising at least one layer of material to be cut, said cutting apparatus including a first revolving shaft, one revolution of said first shaft accompanying the cutting of an integral number of sheets corresponding to the number of layers of material in the web fed to the cutter, said device comprising: a second shaft driven in fixed angular relationship with respect to said rst shaft; a third shaft speed changing means comprising adjustable speed reducing gearing and adjustable speed increasing gearing connected in cascade relationship and interconnecting said second shaft and said third shaft, the speed ratio of said speed increasing gearing being equal to said number of layers and the speed ratio of said speed reducing gearing being equal to a predetermined number of stacked cut sheets to be counted and identified; count identifying means responsive to a control signal and adapted to cause operation of mechanism for the identification of said predetermined counted number of said stacked cut sheets by insertion of a marker in said stack; and control signal originating means comprising contacts actuated by said third shaft once during each revolution thereof for actuating said count identifying means.

6. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a switch actuated by said second shaft once during each revolution thereof and connected in series with said contacts actuated by said third shaft for giving said control signal when said control signal contacts actuated by said third shaft as well as said switch actuated by said second shaft are both simultaneously closed.

'7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said control signal originating means comprises a first switch actuated by said second shaft once during each revolution thereof; storage means connected for control both by said contacts actuated by said third shaft and said switch actuated by said second shaft to energize said first switch actuated by said second shaft for delivering said control signal to said count identifying means at a time determined by a predetermined angular relationship with respect to a predetermined instantaneous angular position of said rst shaft.

8. A device according to claim 7 further comprising additional contacts on said first switch and a set of relays jointly controlled by said contacts actuated by said third shaft, said switch on said second shaft and said additional contacts on said rst switch, said relays being connected to prepare and hold open a current path to said rst switch, whereby after the cutting of said predetermined number of sheets, said control signal is transmitted from said relays to said first switch and thence to said count identifying means.

9. A device according to claim 8 further comprising a repeat preventing relay controlled by said additional contacts on said first switch and connected, during each sustained actuation of said storage means, to render said switch actuated by said second shaft ineiective after its first actuation.

10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising a third switch actuated by said second shaft, said third switch being actuated after the rst switch and remaining actuated after actuation of the rst switch has been terminated, and both switches having a common interval of simultaneous actuation, the beginning of the control signal being determined by the rst switch and the end of the control signal being determined by the third switch.

11. A device according to claim l0, further comprising a relay controlled by said first switch and adapted to be actuated upon actuation of said count identifying means and comprising contacts connected to de-energize said set of relays.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,611,762 Maxson Dec. 21, 1926 2,122,710 Bidwell et al. July 5, 1938 2,315,709 Hudson Apr. 6, 1943 2,365,645 Matthews Dec. 19, 1944 2,375,602 Wickham May 8, 1945 2,382,998 Kleinschmidt Aug. 21J 1945 2,452,022 Weingart et al. Oct. 19, 1948 

